Benchmark DAC3 B - Digital to Analog Audio Converter

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£1,999.00

Benchmark DAC3 B - Digital to Analog Audio Converter

£1,999.00

Benchmark DAC3 converters are in daily use in many of the world's finest recording studios and mastering rooms. They are also enjoyed by thousands of audiophiles.

The DAC3 delivers outstanding musical detail and precise stereo imaging. It employs an advanced high-headroom digital filter design, and a high-sample-rate asynchronous USB audio interface. All inputs are fully isolated from interface jitter by Benchmark's new UltraLock3™ jitter attenuation system.

Internal digital processing and conversion is 32-bits, and this processing includes 3.5 dB of headroom above 0 dBFS. This headroom prevents the DSP overloads that commonly occur in other D/A converters.

Four balanced 32-bit D/A converters are summed together to create each balanced analog output. This 4:1 summation provides a 6 dB noise reduction, and gives the DAC3 industry-leading performance.

DAC3 B - Reference Quality - Basic Features

The DAC3 B is the basic D/A converter in Benchmark's DAC3 converter series. The DAC3 B is the ideal converter to use in front of Benchmark's HPA4 headphone amplifier or LA4 line amplifier. It is also ideal for many professional studio applications. It delivers the full performance of the flagship DAC3 HGC, but eliminates the volume control, the analog inputs, the mute and polarity controls, and the headphone amplifier.

To make system integration easy, the DAC3 B retains IR remote control (handset optional), 12 V trigger, and the programmable auto-on feature. The DAC3 B adds a control-lock feature that turns off the remote control and locks the keypad to prevent tampering and accidental changes. The optional 1/2-width rack-mount faceplate allows the mounting of two units in a single 1-RU rack space.

The DAC3 B sounds exactly like the DAC3 HGC because it uses the exact same circuit board and the exact same audio path. Benchmark has simply eliminated the unnecessary parts to deliver a stripped down race car of a converter. If you want a basic D/A converter that delivers the finest conversion available, the DAC3 B is for you.

Audio Performance
Fs = 44.1 to 96 kHz, 20 to 20 kHz BW, 1 kHz test tone, 0 dBFS = +24 dBu (unless noted)
SNR – A-Weighted, 0 dBFS = +24 dBu	125 dB, 128 dB relative to intersample peaks
SNR – Unweighted, 0 dBFS = +24 dBu	123 dB, 126 dB relative to intersample peaks
THD+N, 1 kHz at 0 dBFS	-113 dBFS, -113 dB, 0.00022%
THD+N, 1 kHz at -1 dBFS	-114 dBFS, -113 dB, 0.00022%
THD+N, 1 kHz at –3 dBFS	-119 dBFS, -116 dB, 0.00016%
THD+N, 20 to 20 kHz test tone at –3 dBFS	-113 dBFS, -110 dB, 0.00032%
Frequency Response at Fs=192 kHz	+0 dB, -0.015 dB (20 to 20 kHz) -0.015 dB at 10 Hz -0.005 dB at 20 kHz -0.031 dB at 40 kHz -0.15 dB at 80 kHz
Frequency Response at Fs=48 kHz	+0 dB, -0.015 dB (20 to 20 kHz) -0.015 dB at 10 Hz -0.005 dB at 20 kHz
Crosstalk	-137 dB at 20 Hz -130 dB at 1 kHz -116 dB at 20 kHz
Maximum Amplitude of Jitter Induced Sidebands (10 kHz 0 dBFS test tone, 12.75 UI sinusoidal jitter at 1 kHz)	< -144 dB
Maximum Amplitude of Spurious Tones with 0 dBFS test signal	< -138 dB
Maximum Amplitude of Idle Tones	< -147 dB
Maximum Amplitude of AC line related Hum & Noise	< -133 dB
Inter-channel Differential Phase (Stereo Pair – any sample rate)	+/- 0.25 degrees at 20 kHz
Inter-channel Differential Phase (Between DAC3 Units Fs<110 kHz) Any sample rate.	+/- 0.25 degrees at 20 kHz
Maximum Lock Time after Fs change	6 ms
Soft Mute Ramp Up/Down Time	9.6 ms
Mute on Receive Error	Yes
Mute on Lock Error	Yes
Mute on Idle Channel	No
50/15 us De-Emphasis Enable	Automatic in Consumer Mode
De-Emphasis Method	Digital IIR
De-Emphasis Supported at	Fs = 32, 44.1, 48 kHz

Group Delay (Latency)
Delay – Digital Input to Analog Output (function of sample rate)	1.36 ms at 44.1 kHz 1.27 ms at 48 kHz 0.90 ms at 88.2 kHz 0.82 ms at 96 kHz 0.51 ms at 176.4 kHz 0.47 ms at 192 kHz

Group Delay (Latency)

Delay – Digital Input to Analog Output (function of sample rate)

1.36 ms at 44.1 kHz

1.27 ms at 48 kHz

0.90 ms at 88.2 kHz

0.82 ms at 96 kHz

0.51 ms at 176.4 kHz

0.47 ms at 192 kHz

Digital Audio Inputs
Number of Digital Inputs (switch selected)	5 (1 USB, 2 Optical, 2 Coaxial)
Number of Channels	2
Input Sample Frequency Range	28 to 210 kHz (Coaxial Inputs) 28 to 96 kHz (Optical Inputs) 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz (USB Input)
Maximum Input Word Length	24 bits
Digital Input Impedance	75 Ohms (Coaxial Inputs)
DC Blocking Capacitors on Digital Inputs	Yes (Coaxial Inputs)
Transient and Over-Voltage Protection on Digital Inputs	Yes (Coaxial Inputs)
Minimum Digital Input Level	250 mVpp (Coaxial Inputs)
Jitter Tolerance (With no Measurable Change in Performance)	>12.75 UI sine, 100 Hz to 3 kHz >1.5 UI sine at 20 kHz >1.5 UI sine at 40 kHz >1.5 UI sine at 80 kHz >1.5 UI sine at 90 kHz >0.25 UI sine above 160 kHz
Jitter Attenuation Method	Benchmark UltraLock3™ - all inputs

Balanced Analog Outputs
Number of Balanced Analog Outputs	2
Output Connector	Gold-Pin Neutrik™ male XLR
Output Impedance	60 Ohms (Attenuator off) 425 Ohms (Attenuator = 10 dB) 135 Ohms (Attenuator = 20 dB)
Analog Output Clip Point	+30 dBu
Factory Calibration (at 0 dBFS)	+24 dBu (Attenuator off)
Output Level Variation with Sample Rate (44.1 kHz vs. 96 kHz)	< +/- 0.006 dB

Unbalanced Analog Outputs
Number of Unbalanced Analog Outputs	2
Output Connector	RCA
Output Impedance	30 Ohms
Analog Output Clip Point	+13.5 dBu (3.7 Vrms)
Factory Calibration (at 0 dBFS)	+8.2 dBu (2 Vrms)
Output Level Variation with Sample Rate	< +/- 0.006 dB

Status Display
Indicators - Type and Location	12 LED’s on Front Panel
Selection/Status Indication	1 – Control Lock 5 – Input 2 – Word length 4 – Sample Rate

Status Display

Indicators - Type and Location

12 LED’s on Front Panel

Selection/Status Indication

1 – Control Lock

5 – Input

2 – Word length

4 – Sample Rate

AC Power Requirements
Nominal Input Operating Voltage Range (VAC RMS)	100 – 240V
Frequency	50-60 Hz
Power	< 0.5 Watts Idle 12 Watts Typical Program 13 Watts Maximum
Fuses	5 x 20 mm (2 required) 0.5 A 250 V Slo-Blo^® Type
Min/Max Operating range (VAC RMS)	90 – 260 VAC 47 – 63 Hz

Dimensions
Form Factor	½ Rack Wide, 1 RU High
Depth behind front panel	8.5” (216 mm)
Overall depth including connectors but without power cord	9.33” (237 mm)
Width	9.5” (249 mm)
Height	1.725” (44.5 mm)